29 Weeks Pregnant | Your Body And Your Baby

You’re 29 weeks pregnant! You are well into your third trimester now and probably starting to feel dizzy if you lie on your back.

This happens because the weight of baby and your uterus is pressing on a large blood vessel (inferior vena cava) and reduces blood flow to your heart. If you are lying down, try to keep tilted off your back or lie on your side.

29 Weeks Pregnant – Your Body

At 29 weeks pregnant, your baby is putting a lot of pressure on your digestive system. So, you’re probably experiencing a lot of heartburn, gas and other digestive issues –again! Your uterus is pressing on your bladder, giving you very little room for holding urine so frequent trips to the toilet have begun again.

You may also start to see varicose veins in your legs. Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels that occur thanks to the increased blood volume, hormones and pressure on veins in the pelvis. These aren’t pretty to look at but should disappear once baby is born. For some women they will cause achiness.

You might also develop varicose veins in the vulva or rectum (haemorroids). Other than avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time, there isn’t much you can do for them. Sitting with your feet propped up will help with the achiness and special support hose can also be helpful.

When you’re 29 weeks pregnant, you may also be having some headaches, particularly if you’re not sleeping well. But they can also be from low blood sugar, so be certain to eat on a regular basis. Now that baby is getting so big, you’ll probably feel much better if you eat several small meals throughout the day, which can help with the digestive issues. This will also help keep your blood sugar stable. Don’t forget to keep your water intake up too.

29 Weeks Pregnant – Your Baby

Your baby is starting to put on a lot of weight now, so it’s getting pretty crowded in your uterus. It probably feels like he’s kicking a lot more. Actually, the amount of kicking is about the same, but because there’s less room, you’re feeling every movement.

Baby is growing rapidly. All organs are formed and he's starting to gain a lot of fat. He still has a long way to go – between now and birth he will double or even triple her current weight! The fat he is putting on is white fat and different from the brown fat your baby was developing early on in pregnancy. Brown fat is for temperature regulation and white fat is actually an energy source. Make sure you keep eating a healthy, balanced diet to meet your baby’s nutritional needs.

Your baby’s permanent (adult) teeth are forming at 29 weeks pregnant. His head is also growing bigger to accommodate that rapidly growing brain!

Now is a good time to start counting baby’s kicks, to help ensure everything’s on track. You can count kicks once in the morning and once at night every day. Get your partner in on the action, too! As you’re the one growing the baby and can feel everything, anything that your partner can feel helps make this more real and more connected to your baby and pregnancy.

When you decide to start counting, look for ten movements (not just kicks) within an hour. If you can’t feel ten movements at least within a two-hour period, it’s best to call your doctor or midwife.

To make the counting period easier, it’s a good idea to have a little snack before you begin counting, or to plan your counting time to come after a meal. The blood sugar rush usually gets baby going.

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